'The dying of our youth is enough': Innu leaders gather on Confederation Building steps

Labrador Innu chiefs are accusing the federal government of not following through on "reducing risk" to Innu youth in Labrador. 

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Several leaders took to the steps of Confederation Building in St. John's Wednesday to demand more help from both the provincial and federal governments. 

"We're coming ... that's enough. The dying of our youth is enough," said  Simeon Tshakapesh, deputy grand chief of the Innu Nation.

"I don't know how many times we buried our own people. I buried two of my own last week and that's enough."

Tshakapesh's 16-year-old son, Thunderheart, died by suicide in May.

Welfare of Innu youth 'urgent'

Shortly before the gathering at Confederation Building, a three-page letter was released to the media detailing the group's specific concerns.

The letter, addressed to Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada Carolyn Bennett, states that while some progress has been made, "one of the most urgent areas still requiring attentions is the welfare of Innu children and youth."

The group mentioned a provincial proposal which asked the Innu to operate placement facilities in communities that would "create safe places for children in care" — an initiative the group believed also had the support of the federal government.

"This vision is about trained Innu staff operating community placement facilities for Innu children and youth in the provincial child care protections system, using the Innu care approach," reads the letter.

"You can imagine our disappointment and bewilderment when in March, your officials informed us that the department was unable to fully consider our complete plans for the 2017-18 fiscal year," the statement said. 

"Minister Bennett … fund the Innu's ground-breaking work on reducing risk to children and youth on reserve in Labrador."

The letter is signed by representatives within the Innu, Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation and Mushuau Innu First Nation.

"Where is the money coming from for the Canada 150 celebrations? There's $500 million that has been spent and we can't even get a cent for our communities to try and help our children," said Anastasia Qupee, grand chief of the Innu Nation.